Physical exercising apparatus



March 25, 1958 H. F. MEYERS 2,82

PHYSICAL EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27, 1956 j z'sheets-sheetz INVENTOR. 1/6272 F 1% 8115',

Byz' fi cillatory movements of the platform during operation of the exerciser. form 26 is'a preferably circular bearing plate 31 which is opposed. to the cam plate 16. Carried by the cam plate 16,in circumferentially spaced relation around the marginal portions thereof, are a plurality of ant1-fr1ction rollers 52, such as ball-bearing type rollers. These rollers are disposed perpendicular to the plane of the cam plate, so as to extend through housing openings 33 with which the cam plate is provided. The rollers 32 are rotatably supported by radial axle shafts 34 which are fixed through the cam plate in extension across the housing openings 33 thereof. As thus mounted, the upper peripheral sides of the rollers project above the top face of the cam plate, so as to thrust against and ride upon the opposed surface of the bearing plate 31 which underlies the platform 26. It will be obvious that the platform 26 does not rotate, but under the thrust of the cam plate 16, when the latter is rotated by rotation of the pedestal drum, will be caused to oscillate with a rocking motion both longitudinally and laterally; the universal joint connection 30 permitting the platform to readily yield to the thrust of the rotated cam plate.

The means for driving the pedestal drum 13 and the cam plate 16 carried thereby comprises a power transmission shaft 35 which is journaled in suitable bearings 36 mounted on the base 10. lies in the plane of the worm gear 14 with which the pedestal drum 13 is provided. Fixed on saidtransmissuitable power source, preferably by an electric motor (not shown) which can be mounted on the base 10. In Figs. 1 and 2, the reference character 38 indicates the armature shaft of the motor, or power shaft of other power source; said shaft 38 being supported, if desired, by a bearing 39 which upstands from the base 10. The power shaft 38 can drivethe transmission shaft 35 through an intermediate train of spur gearing 40, which may be of such reduction character as, through the worm 37 and worm" gear 14-, to rotate the pedestal drum 13 and cam plate 16 at a desired R. P. M. speed. Preferably such speed would not exceed thirty R. P. M.

In the use and operation of the apparatus, the user stands upon the platform 25 with the feet straddling the center point at which the platform is supported by the universal joint'connection 39. When thus standing upon the platform, the weight of the users body is opposed Mounted on the underside of the plat- Said transmission shaft to the movements of the platform, and as the platform is rocked successively in longitudinal and lateral directions, involuntary corresponding movements are imparted to the feet, ankles and legs, whereby the muscles and joints of these members are effectively and beneficially exercised.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. Exercising apparatus comprising a base, an upstanding pedestal drurn supported on said base, means for rotating said pedestal about its vertical axis, a cam plate, means to pivotally mount said cam plate on the top of said pedestal drum for rocking movement about a transverse axis which intersects the vertical axis of the latter, adjustable means for locking the cam plate to the pedestal drum at an inclined plane of selected angular degree relative to the plane of the top of said pedestal drum, said adjustable means comprising a pair of adjustable coupling connections intermediate the pedestal drum and cam plate and diametrically aligned at a right angle to the pivotal axis of the latter, each coupling connection including means to lock the same to the ped-' estal drum in a selected adjusted condition, a nonrot-atable platform adapted to be engaged and oscillated 2,827,894 e p i a by rotary movement of said pedestal drum and cam plate, a platform supporting column upstanding from said base to extend axially through said pedestal drum and cam plate, and a universal joint connection coupling said platform ,to said supporting column. I

2. Exercising apparatus comprising a base, an upstandstanding pedestal drum supported on said base, means for rotating said pedestal drum about its vertical axis, a cam plate, means to pivotally mount said cam plate on the top of said pedestal drum for rocking movement about a transverse axis which intersects the vertical axis of the latter, adjustable means for locking the cam plate to the pedestal drum at an inclined plane of selected angular degree relative to the plane of the top of said pedestal drum, said adjustable means comprising a pair of adjustable coupling connections intermediate the pedestal drum and cam plate and diametrically aligned at a right angle to the pivotal axis of the latter, each coupling connection comprising an anchoring lug radially projecting from a side of the pedestal drum, a perpendicular coupler rod slidably movable through said anchoring lug, a link pivotally connected by its lower end to said coupler rod, means to pivotally connect said link by its upper end to the cam plate, and a set screw threaded through the Wall of said anchoring lug to releasably secure the coupler rod in a selected adjusted position, a non-rotatable platform adapted to be engaged and oscillated by rotary movement of said pedestal'drum and cam plate, a platform supporting column upstanding from said base to extend axially through said pedestal drum and cam plate, and a universal joint connection coupling said platform to said supporting column.

3. Exercising apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the coupler rods is provided with cam plate angle degree determining graduations for cooperation with its supporting anchoring lug.

4. Exercising apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cam plate is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-friction rollers, and the underside of the platform is provided with a bearing plate against which said rollers thrust and ride.

5. Exercising apparatus comprising a base, an upstandihg pedestal drum supported on said base, said pedestal drum including a Worm gear for rotating the same about its vertical axis, a power driven transmission shaft, bearing means on said base by which said shaft is sup- 'po'rte'd,a worm on said shaft to engage and drive the pedestal drum'worm gear, a cam plate, means to pivotally mount said cam plate on the top of said pedestal'drum for rocking movement about a transverse axis which intersects the vertical axis of the latter, adjustable means for locking the cam plate to the pedestal drum at an inclined plane of selected angular degree relative to the plane ofthe top of said pedestal drum, said latter means comprising a pair of adjustable coupling connections intermediate the pedestal drum and cam plate and diametrically aligned at a right angle to the pivotal axis. of the latter,'a non-rotatable platform adapted to be engaged and oscillated by rotary movement of the pedestal drum and cam plate, a platform supporting column upstanding from said base to extend axially through said pedestal drum and cam plate, and a universal'joint connection coupling said platform to saidsupporting column.

6. Exercising apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cam plate is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-friction rollers to thrust and ride against the platform.

' 7. Exercising apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the coupling connections intermediate the pedestal drum and cam plate each comprise an anchoring lug radially projecting from a side of the pedestal drum, a perpendicular rod slidably movable through said anchoring lug,

a link pivotally connected by its lower end to said couplel. rod, means to pivotally connect said link by its upper 5 end to the cam plate, a set screw threaded through the wall of said anchoring lug to releasably secure the coupler rod in a selected adjusted position.

8. Exercising apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cam plate is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-friction rollers, and the underside of the platform is provided with a bearing plate against which said rollers thrust and ride.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

